The 36-year-old former United defender has slammed local rivals City for the way they have inorganically grown over the six years since Sheikh Mansour took ownership of the club.

Silvestre, who played for United between 1999-2008, claims the Premier League champions will never be as popular as his beloved United simply because they 'shut the door' to youth players and buy their way to titles and trophies.

The free agent has told Press Association Sport: "They just buy trophies, United are all about growing players.

"City buy multiple stars and shut the door to the youth system. United have more courage. They are a club with a family spirit.

"Those who come through the ranks absorb the mentality, the history of the club so they show the heritage in their performances."

It's true that City have spent millions upon millions since the billionaire Sheikh took over in 2008, and that spending has resulted in winning two Premier League titles, an FA Cup and a League Cup.

But isn't it the nature of football these days that to be successful you have to buy the best players?

And it's not as though United themselves haven't spent significantly over the years either. £30 million was spent last summer, and £60 million has gone already this window with more spending promised to be on the horizon.

Producing footballers good enough to play at the level that City's and United's first team play at is a rare and difficult thing to do.

Alex Dodd

Alex is a third year sports journalism student at Staffordshire University. As well as his love for sport he has a huge passion for technology and always has his eye on the breaking news in the tech world.